AT least three unified area commanders of the Armed Forces are vying to succeed Army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano who is taking over as 120,000-strong military establishment, vice retiring Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr., next week.

They are Lieutenant Generals Victor Ibrado, the commander of the military's Central Command based in Cebu City; Rodrigo Maclang, commander of the Tarlac City-based Northern Luzon Command; and Cardoso Luna, head of the Eastern Mindanao Command based in Davao City.

Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres, Army spokesman, said all three "are very much suited for the job."

Ibrado and Maclang were classmates of Yano at the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1976. Luna is from PMA Class '75 like Air Force chief Lt. Gen. Pedrito Cadungog.

Torres said he has not heard of any mudslinging involving the three contenders.

"We have not felt any bad maneuvering for the post because as an organization, we really respect the decision of the Board of Senior Officers and Board of Generals," he said.

Torres expressed confidence that the appointment of any of the three contenders would be widely accepted.

Yano is supposed to assume the post of AFP chief on May 9, when Esperon's three-month duty extension ends. The turnover rites, however, would be held on May 12 because President Arroyo will not be available on May 9.

Torres is assuming the post of chief of the AFP public information office chief shortly after Yano becomes AFP chief.

Torres said Yano would continue to visit military units at the frontlines to give the troops "inspiration" and know the problem of the field units. He said Yano has been doing this in the Army for the past two years.

"It's going to continue but on a wider scope, including the Army units, Air Force units, Navy units and the area commands," Torres said.

As Army chief, Yano's "most glaring" accomplishment is that he has "solidified" the organization, Torres said.

The standoff at the Manila Peninsula hotel in Makati City last November standoff occurred during Yano's watch as Army chief. But, Torres said, there were no new faces involved in the incident which the military said was a power grab attempt.